UK's oldest wild White-tailed Eagle dies aged 32
The UK's oldest wild White-tailed Eagle has died aged 32, RSPB Scotland has announced.The eagle, a female named Frisa, hatched in Mull in 1992, where she spent almost three decades raising chicks, becoming a regular on TV nature programmes.She was the daughter of Blondie, who successfully raised the first White-tailed Eagle chick to fledge in Scotland following the reintroduction of the species in 1975.Frisa paired up with her long-time mate Skye in 1997, with the pair raising their first chick in Mull the following year.
They went on to raise 25 chicks during 28 years of partnership.In May 2005, Frisa and Skye made their television debut on the first ever episode of BBC's Springwatch alongside their chicks Itchy and Scratchy – named by the pupils of Dervaig Primary School in Mull.Over the next two decades they made many more appearances on the programme, as well as featuring on Autumnwatch, Winterwatch, Blue Peter, Eagle Island with Gordon Buchanan, Countryfile and The One Show.Frisa's death was announced on the latest episode of Springwatch on Monday.RSPB Ambassador Dave Sexton, who spent 21 years working with White-tailed Eagles in Mull, said Frisa had been "a very special bird who had touched the hearts of millions who saw her both on TV and in the wild".He added: "As Frisa got on in years, I dreaded the day I would visit her territory and find her gone."Sadly, that day has come and I feel like I've lost a friend."She was a true icon for White-tailed Eagles and she'll always hold a special place in my heart."
Frisa has not been seen since last year, leading experts to believe that died of either natural causes or following an altercation with another eagle.Skye has been spotted with another younger female eagle in Mull, which is strong evidence of Frisa's death as White-tailed Eagles usually mate for life.It means that Skye, who hatched in 1994, is now the oldest wild White-tailed Eagle in the UK at 31-years-old.The species became extinct in the UK in 1918, when the last known native wild bird was shot in Shetland.However, a reintroduction project by NatureScot in the Isle of Rum, which began in 1975 using chicks donated from Norway, has seen White-tailed Eagles re-establish a self-sustaining population in Scotland.There are now estimated to be up to 200 pairs in the UK.
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